Taxonomic
relevance of pigment patterns in Arcyria species (Trichiales,
Myxomycetes) including Arcyodes incarnata

Rebhahn, Marie-Annett; Schnittler, Martin; Liebermann, Bernd

Abstract

To evaluate the relevance of chemical characters as additional tools for the taxonomy of myxomycetes, sporocarp pigments of sixteen taxa of the genera Arcyria and Arcyodes (both Trichiales) were analysed by a thin-layer chromatography method that is easy to perform and reproduce. Focusing on the notoriously difficult group of red-coloured Arcyria species, surprisingly high correspondence for pigment patterns of all investigated specimens belonging to a certain morphospecies was found. The use of pigments for species differentiation is demonstrated by a key for the pigment patterns of Arcyria incl. Arcyodes incarnata. Results of pigment analyses are compared with the classical taxonomy based on morphological characters. A cladistic analysis of the relationships in the genus using both pigments and morphological characters is presented.